Today

Rwanda                vs        Uganda U19            9am

Uganda U23         vs        Kenya                      2pm

Friday

Uganda U19         vs        Kenya                      9am

Rwanda                vs        Uganda U23            2pm

Saturday

Rwanda                vs        Kenya                      9am

Uganda U23         vs        Uganda U19            2pm

Sunday

3rd place play-off           9am

Final                                 2pm

Hosts Rwanda will take on Uganda U19 Schools Select XI in the opening fixture of this year’s Kwibuka Cricket Tournament that kicks off today at Kicukiro Cricket ground.

The fourth edition of the annual tournament has attracted four women teams, including UCA Combined Schools Select XI, Uganda U23, Kenya national team and hosts Rwanda.

The visiting teams arrived in the country on Tuesday and visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre in Gisozi as well as Rwanda International Cricket Stadium in Gahanga, which is under construction and is expected to be inaugurated in October.

"We expect a tough competition from an experienced Kenya side and two very strong Ugandan sides; nonetheless we are determined to put up a good fight. The tournament will be a good test for us in terms of capacity building,” said Rwanda national team coach Davis Turinawe.

Both Kenya and Uganda are using the tournament to prepare for the T20 World Cup Qualifiers scheduled to be staged in Namibia from September 9-16.

The Uganda School Select XI is comprised of players from the just concluded Schools’ Cricket Week and is handled by Ivan Kakande, while the U23 side, coached by Yusuf Nanga, is made up of mostly players out of school.

"I expect tough competition but we are here to test ourselves as we prepare for the World Cup qualifiers,” Nanga said adding that, "We had a short time training together but we are ready to give our best as the leading team.”

Meanwhile, the Kenyan side will be seeking to reclaim the title they won in 2015 after defeating Uganda in the final by 10 runs. The Kenyan side missed last year’s tournament, which was won by Uganda.

Under head coach Lydia Kaparo, a former national team player, Kenya has a mixture of experience and youth in players like; Ruth Mwihaki, Quintor Aoko, Mary Wambui, Sarah Bhatika and Vanessa Adhiambo.

However, they will miss the services of captain Daisy Wairumu, who is recovering from a road accident sustained early this year. Veteran all-rounder Mary Margaret is leading the team.

The tournament is held annually to commemorate the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw